Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT 1950s Craftsman Garage retro remodel

W650Mike · Jun 14, 2011

Subscribed!

(Another W650 BTW)

fergus · Jun 14, 2011

Wow...you really had a vision. I dig it. I can really see that its coming together and will be awesome upon completion. You might be able to expect some plagarism from yours truly in the future...

Red Leader · Jun 14, 2011

Guys,

thanks for all your kind words of encouragement. That is probably one of the biggest reasons why I've been so motivated/inspired to continue on. That, and the support of my awesome wife.

I don't know if I'll get a lot done today since I get home late, but here whats next on the plate:

Cabinet work:

Drills holes/routing passage for rope lighting and 14/2 for some fluorescents.
Rewire unused lightbox for use for shelf lighting (need to think on this a little more)
Facing the shelving with sanded plywood
aluminum flashing underneath visibly exposed shelving
bondo to smooth out plywood transitions
aluminum trim and other small trim pieces

Other work:

Tool pegboard install and trimming (x3)
Finish panel trim work (easy)
Finish overhead door trim (easy)
fabricate a new garage door opener button (have most of supplies)
Design/fabricate toolbench (hard/time)
Fabricate fold down/up workbenches (time)

Again, thank you for all your support! It means a lot!

keduner · Jun 14, 2011

Hey there Red Leader (or should I say neighbor). I just followed the link back to your build... outstanding! That is a ton of work your putting in and very classy indeed. Love the colors and the configuration of the shelving, nice touch. Congratulations!

Zengineer · Jun 15, 2011

Great concept and nice execution. Subscribed and looking forward to more progress on this build!

reddog289 · Jun 15, 2011

Good Work, If I were half as motivated as you I would be twice as happy with the progress. Once my daughter moves back in with my Granddaughter I will be spending more time in my garage,Tobacco smoke ain't good for babies now days so what better excuse to get to work.
I myself picked up some "teal" paint a couple years ago.Since I saw the way the walls looked, What the heck I'll use that stuff on my walls after I tone it down.
After seeing your Craftsman tools, I kick myself for not getting that planer 10 yrs ago. It was old and a Craftsman what more can I say.

groupcracer · Jun 15, 2011

I'm moved to post something about this thread....great work and attention to detail.

As an office worker who loves to work with his hands I felt for you with many of your "adventures"

I think I might take some photos this weekend and show you the thrid world conditions I'm working with until the proper garage comes along.

Cheers

Red Leader · Jun 15, 2011

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! It really helps keep me going!

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be getting much done tonight as the wife and I have a class that goes pretty late tonight. However! Thurs, Fri, and Saturday are pretty much all clear in the evening (and all day Saturday) so I'm going to try and finally knock out this trim stuff, then get some facing on these cabinets after I drill some holes for routing wiring for the lights through the cabinets. Besides, the lights and wires will come once the shelving is finished, so all I have to do is make sure I prep right for the future install, and we'll be all good :thumbup:

Killa-B · Jun 15, 2011

Subscribed!

Red Leader · Jun 16, 2011

Thanks everyone!

I'll get a chance to do some work on it tomorrow. I'll need to do a little bit of painting, but once that is down, I'll make sure the correct holes are drilled, get some of the wiring in line, and maybe purchase a sheet of the sanded plywood and start working on the facing. Once the facing is on, things will REALLY start to take shape!

Opdizzl · Jun 16, 2011

Hey red leader, did you paint the inside tracks for the garage door too? I couldn't really tell from the pics. I really like the idea I just doubt the paint would hold up with the everyday use of the garage door.

Red Leader · Jun 16, 2011

Nope, the inside tracks are free of paint. Its funny you should mention that, though. I accidentally got some overspray in one of them as I was painting it and thought, "Dang...well, I guess I better just paint the inside now," and got it all cleaned and prepped for paint. I wiped the inside down with rubbing alcohol and it was then that I realized the rubbing alcohol rubbed off what little paint got inside the track. Its just funny how it worked out like that since I was saved from a HUGE STUPID moment, by accident

Red Leader · Jun 17, 2011

Update for tonight:

Some nights, it feels that after hours of work, things just kind of look exactly the same :lol_hitti

That might be the case tonight haha.

I got the undersides of the cabinets/shelves painted, and got some aluminum flashing for the undersides of the tops, and got the tops finally screwed down. So yeah, it basically looks the same.

However, here is the proof that I spent hours and hours working on the garage without too many visible results

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

Dang this **** seemed to take forever. It might be because I had to paint for 3 seconds, then run away and find somewhere where I could breath, then go back and do another section. This went on for about 2.5 hours haha.
Here is me painting under the shelves (note to self: DON'T CUT CORNERS!!! It always ends up making more work in the long run

)

Whoohooo!...

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

Aluminum flashing, baby.

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

Putting it on:

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

Flashy.

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

I had to cut this stuff to match the corners of the shelving. Here's how it went!

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

I don't know why the heck I put the flashing under there. I guess I just didn't want to see the crappy plywood when I look up at the cabinets, so I guess we'll all hope it looks cool

Here is the final shot...shockingly similar to before I even did anything :bounce:

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

Tomorrow I'm going to try to put the plywood facing on...and THEN things will really start taking shape!

Jack Olsen · Jun 17, 2011

It always takes longer than you think it will. Or rather, the stuff that you think is going to take forever often goes quickly, and the stuff you think is easy and quick often drags everything to a crawl.

Red Leader said:

Here's my question: how do you make either of these pieces? This sort of work runs right past the territory that I know in woodworking. I wouldn't even know where to start.

Red Leader · Jun 17, 2011

Jack Olsen said:
It always takes longer than you think it will. Or rather, the stuff that you think is going to take forever often goes quickly, and the stuff you think is easy and quick often drags everything to a crawl.

Here's my question: how do you make either of these pieces? This sort of work runs right past the territory that I know in woodworking. I wouldn't even know where to start.

Jack,

This:
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/Oscillating-Edge-Belt--Spindle-Sander/EN/index.htm
This is one of the few modern tools in my shop. It helped me make that top trim piece (as well as my router on my table saw) and the 'rockets'.

I feel like back in the day, they made the finest, most robust tools for the average home woodworker. However, that doesn't mean that 60 years doesn't show any innovation. The closest thing to this Ridgid tool that was made back in the day would either be an edge sander or an oscillating spindle sander. However, edge sanders are giant tools with a huge footprint and oscillating spindle sanders (old ones) are hard to find, expensive, and many times less reliable that other tools of the same vintage. The two tools I feel that 60 years really made a difference with is the miter saw and the oscillating belt sander. It is an amazing tool and it is compact.

The above-door trim piece is actually 3 pieces. I started with a plain ol' furring strip, cut the wing type profile on one side, then set it aside. Then, I cut another piece about half as wide and much thinner, then traced and cut out the upper wing profile on it, routed a bevel on one edge and painted it black. Then, I made a piece half the size of that one and basically did the same thing. Then I sandwiched them together. I'll see if I can take a picture with more detail. Also, I may have to take it apart to throw the big piece in the table saw and make a cutout for the door framing (it sticks out from the wall a bit). If I do, I'll take pictures of the individual pieces since if I was to read this, it would make no sense (I need pictures :bounce:

)

The rockets were also cut out of a furring strip, then sanded on the Ridgid tool above to make the profile, then I cut out little 'wings' for each one, profiled them in the same way, then glued 1 on each side of the main piece.

I'm still not done with them yet...they will be getting some black 'art deco' lines put on them.

Honestly, I really don't know where to start either! I guess I just start thinking of stuff and then one thing leads to another. What I have found is that my small projects often take a new direction in the very middle of the build as I think of new stuff to do. Sometimes when I wing it like that, it actually turns out! Other times, like that weird looking extension on the second shelf of my cabinets, stuff just doesn't really work, haha:

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

Thanks for asking!

Red Leader · Jun 17, 2011

Okay, okay...ONE more update for tonight

Jack you got the gears in my head turning. You asked for some more details, I love taking pictures...so I'm happy to oblige!

By daveamy at 2011-06-16
This is a cross section of the over-the-door trim piece - as you can see, it is 3 pieces sandwiched together. At first I thought it was going to be a real challenge since I was trying to figure out how to route out the contours, but then the gears started whirring around up there and I got the idea to just piece it together

By daveamy at 2011-06-16
Here is how I sanded the 'rockets' (minus the mini wings on each side, of course). I would contour them on the sanding belt, then I made the little cutout wings (all of this was done on the '56 scroll saw) then I contoured the little guys and glued 'em all up!

Since I was out in the garage and I had been thinking for forever about getting the 'art deco' thing started, I thought, "hey, why not!" So here we go!

Take some dowel (this is 3/8" I think)...

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

Sand it down to half size ('D' shape)...

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

Cut to size, round corners, paint, and whala!

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

Now, the big mystery here was "what the heck are these things?"

Drum roll...............................

Trim pieces!!!!

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

I know, kinda underwhelming. I gotta get as much fun out of this whole thing as I can. There will be four of them, stemming from the panel trim, going out and continuing the art deco lines on some thinner trim strips going up and down. These will also serve the function of hiding the lines of the wire cover panel that will go above the electrical panel, as well as provide a way to access it. The big secret is out!!! (haha)

I also redid the contour of the top trim piece above the door as it was a little messy and bothering me-

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

By daveamy at 2011-06-16

All this stuff will look a lot better with a finish on it...which hopefully my come tomorrow or Saturday. Stay tuned!

tinbender 66 · Jun 17, 2011

Great imagination and vision you have! The fun you are having is contagious. I'm looking forward to the next surprise.............

White Trash Renegade · Jun 17, 2011

Awesome!!!!

Red Leader · Jun 18, 2011

Oh yeah!!! Progress!!

So I got a sheet of plywood for the cabinet facing, and cut them into 4.5" strips:

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

I then routed a soft corner where they'll meet up with the shelf tops:

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

Here is the pile of them done:

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

Now, to get the 'curve' around the plywood, I though about how they make part of the bracing inside acoustic guitars. I practiced on a scrap piece of wood:

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

This helped me get the depth right. I'm GLAD I did this. Too thick and the piece would just break when flexed. Too thin, and it would just, well, break again

So here is a piece done and ready to rock:

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

Here is the first piece up!

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

Here is how I put them on - I get them ready, then attach one side, making sure it is pretty flush with the shelf tops, then press it against the curve and screw on the second side:

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

Progress!

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

Progress!!!

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

PROGRESS!!!

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

6/10 curves done. 4 to go. Will finish up tomorrow

Red Leader · Jun 18, 2011

New addition to the family...

I've got a new addition coming (at some point)...

Early 1950's Craftsman 7" bench grinder:

By daveamy at 2011-06-11

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

This is a very rare tool that Craftsman only made for a few years. It was soon replaced (I believe around 1953) with a grinder styled more like this:

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

...and this style was used throughout the rest of the 50s and on into the 60s.

I'm really excited about it since it was on my 'list' of tools for the garage. Right now it is in PA and will have to make its way to me, so I probably won't see it for a while, but when I do, it will get the full treatment and be restored. Here is what an original, pristine one looks like:

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful tools ever made.

tinbender 66 · Jun 18, 2011

Awesome grinder! I have one like your first pic that I inherited from my dad. I thought it was cool. Now I want like your new old one lol. This forum can get expensive in a hurry.

fergus · Jun 18, 2011

This thread is full of win!

Red Leader · Jun 18, 2011

Cabinet facing DONE (okay not really, but ALMOST!):

By daveamy at 2011-06-18

By daveamy at 2011-06-18

I was trying to figure out how to 'freeze' a curved panel that went as the 'endcap' for the end of the shelf, but screwing it on and trying to get glue to solidify it wasn't going to work-

By daveamy at 2011-06-18

However, my brain just had an epiphany about a solution, so I'll be doing that soon. I may have to redo the panel I made, but thats okay since I have some extra wood.

Also, I've got a finish drying right now on these guys:

By daveamy at 2011-06-18

By daveamy at 2011-06-18

...so I'll be trying to put them up later on tonight and be 90% done with the trim. Only thing left will be a few art deco accents.

Expect maybe one more update tonight!

mdbeck1 · Jun 18, 2011

Red Leader said:
Oh yeah!!! Progress!!

...This helped me get the depth right. I'm GLAD I did this. Too thick and the piece would just break when flexed. Too thin, and it would just, well, break again

So here is a piece done and ready to rock:

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

Here is the first piece up!

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

Here is how I put them on - I get them ready, then attach one side, making sure it is pretty flush with the shelf tops, then press it against the curve and screw on the second side:

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

By daveamy at 2011-06-17

Progress!

...

In the woodworking world we call the grooves a "kerf". Sometimes we will soak the wood in water as well to make them even easier to bend...

Another method is to cut the wood into very thin strips, place glue in between, then pull them into a jig until they are dry. It takes longer but the whole curve is solid and can be used for structural items.

Red Leader · Jun 19, 2011

Well, here is the final update for tonight.

Did the door frame trim:

From this:

By daveamy at 2011-06-18

To this:

By daveamy at 2011-06-18

And I got the 'rockets' up where they will find their home:

By daveamy at 2011-06-18

My mood is kinda discouraged right now. I guess you could say that my method is to try and pay attention to details, so I've also noticed that there are gouges all over the walls now, the garage is a disaster, again (4+ hours clean time), and my install of a lot of things is pretty sloppy (in my opinion). I can go out there and see all the mistakes I've made. I feel like there is a LOT that I will have to touch up, from the walls to the trim to everything else. Its kinda like for every two steps I take I'm taking one back, which just kinda *****.

At least things continue to get done. Next on the list is fabricating a new garage door opener/button, getting the tool boards up on the wall, then of course a major clean up and touching up the wall and all the other stuff that I've scuffed and dented and made more crappy.

When I get more funds for the budget, I'm planning on getting some bondo for the shelves. I'm also looking for ideas for strengthening the corner facing of the shelves where I made all the cuts - with the way I keep banging stuff around in there, its gonna need it.

tinbender 66 · Jun 19, 2011

Cheer up Red Leader. You're probably seeing things that 99% of the people who walk through there will miss. When you get it finished (ha) and start working in there it's gonna get more dings for sure. It looks great to me.

Zengineer · Jun 19, 2011

You'll have plenty of time to agonize over the minute details and fix them in the coming years. Keep going, it's looking great!

LeonardY · Jun 19, 2011

Red Leader said:
My mood is kinda discouraged right now. I guess you could say that my method is to try and pay attention to details, so I've also noticed that there are gouges all over the walls now, the garage is a disaster, again (4+ hours clean time), and my install of a lot of things is pretty sloppy (in my opinion). I can go out there and see all the mistakes I've made. I feel like there is a LOT that I will have to touch up, from the walls to the trim to everything else. Its kinda like for every two steps I take I'm taking one back, which just kinda *****.

I know how you feel, but your making great strides. Keep your eye on the prize. I wish I had your motivation. It looks fantastic.

Leonard

classicharleyj · Jun 20, 2011

WOW...
Sometimes we get to close to the tree and we can't see the forest.
"Red".. very very nice detail on the woodwork. You have no reason to be discouraged.
So impressive.
Jim

Red Leader · Jun 20, 2011

Thanks for the kind words, fellas.

I supposed I was just having a long day out there working on Sat and got taken in my how messy it was and how the garage is already accumulating battle scars and its not even done yet! But I am feeling better about it. And your right, I'll have more time later to do those touch ups.

I am a bit more encouraged too since my budget got extended a little more due to some $$ coming in on the tail end from my birthday, which is, again, a lifesaver, as I really can't spend too much more on the garage of my own $$ (with the baby coming in less than a month).

The good news is that I'll be able to do quite a bit with what I have now, including the garage door opening box, the inside of the garage door (paint), and now with the birthday $$, finishing up most of the cabinet/shelving, which I am very excited about.

I am planning on doing a little fold-down under drawer under the main lower section, and then the hidden door at the tail end of the cabinet on the far side of the wall. Most of the ideas for it are in my head, but I think they will turn out really nice.

I won't be making any updates tonight with it being the wife's birthday, but I'll have some time later on in the week. As always, couldn't do it without all the support, both from family, and from you all. Thank you :thumbup:

ambenz · Jun 20, 2011

Very cool vision taking shape, don't get discouraged, find a garage friend who loves to help and just hang out!!! Ya, easier said then done. There is, however plenty of teens out of work who you can coax to clean for you for a few bucks....just a thought.
Red Leader, if you live in the western burbs of Chitown, I'd cruise over to give you a hand, love the ideas and seeing your vision taking shape!!!

Red Leader · Jun 22, 2011

Another boost of encouragement - I spent about 1.5-2 hours out cleaning the garage and it really made a difference. I'll be ready to go out there and start on some new projects, maybe even as early as tomorrow. Now that the budget has been extended a bit once again (thanks mom/dad!), I'm planning on picking up some Liquid Nails for the underside of the kerfing on the shelf facing and some bondo to get the smoothing out process started.

Also, a HUGE load off my mind is the 4runner - It had been stressing me out for weeks...it had this slow leak and I couldn't figure out if it was oil, or gear oil from the transmission, transfer case, or front differential. Last think I wanted to do was burn up a transmission by running it dry. Well, I went out and took another in depth look tonight, and spent more time than I had before trying to trace the leak. And, I was able to trace it up to the oil filter. Sure enough, put the oil filter socket on that sucker, and it was loose. I'm 99% sure that's what the leak was, and now I am SO relieved! Sometimes its the little things that make the difference. Btw the vehicle has 248k on it and runs like new. Love it!

I'll try and get out there tomorrow!

Red Leader · Jun 22, 2011

ambenz said:
Very cool vision taking shape, don't get discouraged, find a garage friend who loves to help and just hang out!!! Ya, easier said then done. There is, however plenty of teens out of work who you can coax to clean for you for a few bucks....just a thought.
Red Leader, if you live in the western burbs of Chitown, I'd cruise over to give you a hand, love the ideas and seeing your vision taking shape!!!

Thanks for your compliment and awesome offer! :thumbup:

I think I am just a little further away, being in Centennial, Colorado, but hey, if you're ever in the area let me know - come on by, have a beer, and hammer on something

BUGTHUG · Jun 23, 2011

Hey Red Leader,
looking retro for shure. You should go to a commerical kitchen place and find some stainless steel in diamond shapes to put in behind places your craftsman tools will be , to help protect the walls.
I was cleaning some boxes of electrical junk and came acroos a bunch of the bakelite covers that came out of my house when I remodeled, but they wouldn't look right in my barn.
You will need to find a retro looking baby moniter here pretty quick,good luck.

Red Leader · Jun 23, 2011

BUGTHUG said:
You will need to find a retro looking baby moniter here pretty quick,good luck.

Haha, I know, right?

Thanks for the compliments.

I didn't do too much on the garage side of things, but I DID pull out my 1940s Craftsman grinder (which needed some electrical repair) and got the wires all sorted out, and the main castings all cleaned. As soon as the weather shapes up, I'll be able to prime and paint, put new bearings in, and put it back together.

Now I just have to figure out how it goes back together...

Red Leader · Jun 24, 2011

Got a LOT more done on the grinder than I thought I was going to!

Totally repaired the electrical, and got the primer AND paint on the main castings!

Also, bearings were an easy fit.

Honestly, the hardest part about this is going to be figuring out how it goes back together. I took pictures getting it apart, but apparently not at every step. Not smart :lol_hitti

Here is how things started shaping up-

What I started with:

By daveamy at 2011-06-23

Here is part of what I did today-

Cleaned:

By daveamy at 2011-06-23

By daveamy at 2011-06-23

Primed:

By daveamy at 2011-06-23

By daveamy at 2011-06-23

Painted:

By daveamy at 2011-06-23

By daveamy at 2011-06-23

This grinder has been a good test run for the early 50s one that I'll have coming. I'll probably be a little more delicate with that one as it will kinda sorta be a 'show' grinder as well

, but this one will turn out to be no slouch either! Both will get the same paint scheme as seen above.

BUGTHUG · Jun 24, 2011

WOW, that will look nice. Are you going to paint your shelves red or black?

PDACPA · Jun 24, 2011

Hey Red Leader, I think you need some "Round Up" for that stone walkway! :lol:

Honestly though, very cool refurbishing the old stuff and making it new again. I wish I could have saved some of my grandfather's old tools, but they just sold it all (and I am sure cheaply) and all I got was some books, a little drill press, and some hand tools. They did not want to ship it to FL. Oh well.

Garage looks good. Keep posting pictures of the progress.

Red Leader · Jun 24, 2011

BUGTHUG said:
WOW, that will look nice. Are you going to paint your shelves red or black?

Thanks! I am going to paint the shelves the teal color that is the bottom half color of the garage, then I am going to clear coat some trim pieces that will cover the vertical wood supports (similar to the trim around the bottom edge of the garage), and then it will get some black trim pieces in front, along with some art deco lines.

I am going to try to do the 'liquid nails' thing to the kerfing today and then maybe do the bondo work later this weekend. I still need to do up the end cabinet door and the bottom swing down drawer, but I need a few solid hours of free time to work on those. We'll see when I get that time again

Red Leader · Jun 24, 2011

PDACPA said:
Hey Red Leader, I think you need some "Round Up" for that stone walkway!
.

You're telling me! :lol_hitti

Thanks for the encouragement. What was the little drill press that you got?

Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT 1950s Craftsman Garage retro remodel

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